Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare The Walt Disney Company (DIS) vs Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LYV | 8.8% revenue growth vs DIS's 3.4% |
| Value | DIS | Lower P/E (16.1x vs 101.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | DIS | 12.8% net margin vs LYV's 3.7% |
| Stability / Safety | LYV | Beta 0.90 vs DIS's 1.10 |
| Dividends | DIS | 0.9% yield; 1-year raise streak; LYV pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LYV | +13.1% vs DIS's -5.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | DIS | 6.1% ROA vs LYV's 3.9%, ROIC 6.9% vs 343.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
The Walt Disney Company is a global entertainment conglomerate that creates and distributes content across film, television, and streaming platforms while operating theme parks and consumer products. It generates revenue primarily through its media networks and streaming services (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu) — roughly 60% of revenue — and its parks, experiences, and products segment — about 30% of revenue. Disney's key competitive advantage is its unparalleled portfolio of iconic intellectual property — including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney classics — which drives cross-platform monetization and creates a powerful content flywheel.
Live Nation Entertainment is the world's largest live entertainment company, operating concerts, festivals, and venue management globally. It generates revenue primarily through concert promotion and production (~60%), ticketing services via Ticketmaster (~30%), and sponsorship/advertising deals (~10%). Its key competitive advantage is its vertically integrated ecosystem—controlling artists, venues, ticketing, and sponsorships—which creates powerful network effects and barriers to entry.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LYV leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). DIS leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DIS is the larger business by revenue, generating $95.7B annually — 3.9x LYV's $24.6B. DIS is the more profitable business, keeping 12.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LYV's 3.7%. On growth, LYV holds the edge at +11.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $95.7B | $24.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $19.0B | $1.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12.3B | $899M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.1B | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.3% | +46.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.2% | +4.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | +3.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +6.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.2% | +11.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.3% | -56.0% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, DIS's 12.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LYV's 17.8x.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $189.9B | $38.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $229.1B | $33.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 15.48x | -675.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.09x | 101.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.96x | 17.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.01x | 1.51x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.68x | 42.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.85x | 114.42x |
Profitability & Efficiency
LYV delivers a 45.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $45 in annual profit, vs $11 for DIS. DIS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.39x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LYV's 2.93x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DIS scores 8/9 vs LYV's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.7% | +45.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.1% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.9% | +3.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.5% | +11.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.39x | 2.93x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $39.2B | -$4.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $7.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $44.9B | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.86x | 3.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in LYV five years ago would be worth $17,461 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,567 for DIS. Over the past 12 months, LYV leads with a +13.1% total return vs DIS's -5.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LYV at 31.0% vs DIS's 2.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -5.2% | +11.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -5.7% | +13.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.0% | +125.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -44.3% | +74.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.5% | +637.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.9% | +31.0% |
Risk & Volatility
LYV is the less volatile stock with a 0.90 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DIS's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LYV currently trades 92.5% from its 52-week high vs DIS's 85.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.10x | 0.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $124.69 | $175.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $80.10 | $112.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.0% | +92.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.6 | 59.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 9.5M | 2.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DIS as "Buy" and LYV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.4% upside for DIS (target: $139) vs 11.8% for LYV (target: $181). DIS is the only dividend payer here at 0.94% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | DISThe Walt Disney C… | LYVLive Nation Enter… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $139.33 | $181.20 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 63 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.00 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.8% | +0.1% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 100 | 87.06 | -12.9% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 100 | 248.34 | +148.3% |
Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) returned +75% over 5 years vs The Walt Disney Com… (DIS)'s -44%. A $10,000 investment in LYV 5 years ago would be worth $17,461 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | $55.6B | $94.4B | +69.7% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | $7.8B | $25.2B | +222.0% |
The Walt Disney Company's revenue grew from $55.6B (2016) to $94.4B (2025) — a 6.1% CAGR. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.8B (2016) to $25.2B (2025) — a 13.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 16.9% | 13.1% | -22.2% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 0.0% | 2.0% | +5134.0% |
The Walt Disney Company's net margin went from 17% (2016) to 13% (2025). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to 2% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 18.9 | 16.6 | -12.2% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | 109 | 47.3 | -56.6% |
The Walt Disney Company has traded in a 13x–142x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. has traded in a 47x–109x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-676x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Com… (DIS) | 5.73 | 6.85 | +19.5% |
| Live Nation Enterta… (LYV) | -0.23 | -0.24 | -4.3% |
The Walt Disney Company's EPS grew from $5.73 (2016) to $6.85 (2025) — a 2% CAGR. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.23 (2016) to $-0.24 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
The Walt Disney Company generated $10B FCF in 2025 (+407% vs 2021). Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. generated $334M FCF in 2025 (-79% vs 2021).
DIS vs LYV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DIS or LYV a better buy right now?
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) offers the better valuation at 15.5x trailing P/E (16.1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Walt Disney Company (DIS) a "Buy" — based on 63 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — DIS or LYV?
On forward P/E, The Walt Disney Company is actually cheaper at 16.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DIS or LYV?
Over the past 5 years, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) delivered a total return of +74.6%, compared to -44.3% for The Walt Disney Company (DIS). A $10,000 investment in LYV five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LYV returned +637.3% versus DIS's +20.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DIS or LYV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) is the lower-risk stock at 0.90β versus The Walt Disney Company's 1.10β — meaning DIS is approximately 22% more volatile than LYV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 3% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DIS or LYV?
The Walt Disney Company (DIS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus 2.0% for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DIS leads at 14.6% versus 5.0% for LYV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LYV leads at 46.2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is DIS or LYV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, The Walt Disney Company (DIS) trades at 16.1x forward P/E versus 101.0x for Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. — 84.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DIS: 31.4% to $139.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — DIS or LYV?
In this comparison, DIS (0.9% yield) pays a dividend. LYV does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is DIS or LYV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. (LYV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.90), +637.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LYV: +637.3%, DIS: +20.5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between DIS and LYV?
Both stocks operate in the Communication Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: DIS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; LYV is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. DIS pays a dividend while LYV does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Revenue Growth > 5%
- Gross Margin > 27%